Admission Criteria

Candidates must be able to satisfy the general admission requirements of the University of the West of Scotland as specified in Chapter 2 of the University Regulatory Framework together with the following programme requirements:

Appropriate Undergraduate Qualification

Other Required Qualifications/Experience

Your application may also be considered if you have other academic, vocational or professional qualifications deemed to be of equivalence. For example, if you have UKCC or National Governing Body (NGB) accreditation of some academic equivalence and have extensive experience in the area, you may be considered via interview.

Further desirable skills pre-application

You should provide some evidence of coaching experience to drive and direct programme engagement and personal progress.

Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme (PVG)
Successful applicants who gain a place on this course will need to register on the PVG Scheme, managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland. Application will be managed through the University once you have accepted your offer, and further guidance will be provided during induction. There is a fee for joining the scheme and the appropriate fee should be covered by the student. Those students already part of the scheme may apply for an update which incurs a reduced fee. Current fees are available at https://www.mygov.scot/apply-for-pvg

General Overview

The MSc Sport Coaching programme is designed for coaches and graduates seeking to develop specialist knowledge in sport coaching. The course is designed around work-based learning to allow you to build on your existing experience and enhance your coaching competencies. The focus of the programme is to adopt current and innovative research in applied coaching for you to consider how best to apply this to practice. You will learn in a collaborative environment with other coaches and teaching staff. The programme is designed as a pathway for career development in the sports coaching profession. You will study your own coaching and the coaching of others and be supported by a supervisor who specialises in an area of of interest to you (e.g., psychology, performance analysis, conditioning, pedagogy). You will learn to apply investigative methods to your coaching to improve both your own and your athlete's practice. You will study professional judgement and decision-making to enhance your planning ability and prepare to optimise your athlete's development.

The MSc Sport Coaching will benefit from UWS staff multi-disciplinary expertise and networks to provide an academic application to the contemporary understanding of coaching environments. Teaching staff have strong practitioner links and apply their knowledge in areas such as performance analysis, sport conditioning, and sport psychology. Modern coaches have to be knowledgeable and apply skills in each of these domains. The supervised experience model will provide a basis for career development in the sports coaching profession with specialist knowledge in your chosen area. Throughout this process you will learn how to put theory into practice whilst developing reflective, analytical and critical thinking skills.

From their consultancy work, teaching staff have strong working relationships with sports organisations, including professional sport teams, and public and private sport providers. In addition, the university has a number of partnerships with sports teams which may support you in work-based learning roles.

Graduate Attributes, Employability & Personal Development Planning

The ‘I AM UWS’ graduate attributes have been developed to reflect that vision where UWS graduates are work-ready and able to successfully contribute both locally and globally. As part of the programme design and development, the graduate attributes are aligned with all aspects of module and programme delivery.

Personal development planning is embedded in all of the MSc Sport Coaching modules. The process of personal development is implicit in all activities and engagement with students.

There are a range of employment markets for graduate sport coaches, including professional sports clubs, commercial and social enterprises, local authority sports programmes, schools, disability sports clubs, and national governing bodies (NGBs). Roles include academy coach, specialist technical coach, coach educator and coach manager. There is also potential for progression to a career in education or further research (e.g., doctoral studies).

Work Based Learning/Placement Details

This work-based learning (WBL) programme can either be situated with your existing employer or an alternative employer. If you are not currently working, placements can be accessed to enable you to gain experience in your chosen role with one of our partners.

The WBL activities are embedded throughout the programme. This can allow for continuity of progression in one coaching environment and also deepen collaborative relationships between you and industry. WBL activities are self-constructed, affording you the opportunities to investigate and intervene in the coaching problems most pertinent to your development.

The WBL strand of the programme runs from Supervised Experience in Sport Coaching 1 and 2, Planning for Coaching, and culminates in the Applied Coaching Project. Throughout these modules you will be supported by a supervisor in the selection of a relevant work environment, the identification of an area for investigation within the environment, and the evaluation and reflection of the research and evidence applied to the environment. The WBL modules reflect the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate (UKCC) Level 4 generic competencies. Furthermore, the WBL modules are underpinned by the knowledge sets that are a requirement of British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Accreditation.

You will be given the opportunity to self-assess, peer-assess or ‘other’ assess coaching practice in applied settings. You will learn observational analysis skills, interview skills and develop your own coaching ability and the ability of others in an authentic coaching environment.

Students are required to meet the expenses (e.g. travel) relating to the WBL modules.

The Division of Sport and Exercise have a range of branded sports kit available for purchase by students via our provider’s online store. Purchase of such kit is not a mandatory part of the course; however, it is advised that attending placement in branded kit will increase the professional appearance of students whilst representing the university. Any kit purchased is at the personal cost to each student. 

Engagement

In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time.

Where a programme has Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body requirements these will be listed here:

Students are defined as academically engaged if they consistently attend timetabled teaching sessions (including placements), engage with course-related learning resources including synchronous and asynchronous learning activities and tasks, regularly access VLEs, and complete and submit assessments on time.

Equality and Diversity

The University's Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Procedure can be accessed at the following link: UWS Equality and Diversity Policy

In line with current legislation (Equality Act, 2010) and the UWS Equality, Diversity, and Human Rights Code, our modules are accessible and inclusive, with reasonable adjustment for different needs where appropriate. Module materials comply with University guidance on inclusive learning and teaching, and specialist assistive equipment, support provision and adjustment to assessment practice will be made in accordance with UWS policy and regulations. Where modules require practical learning or assessment, alternative formats and/or roles will be provided for students with physical disabilities which impact participation.

Knowledge and Understanding

Practice - Applied Knowledge and Understanding

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills

Generic Cognitive Skills - Problem Solving, Analysis, Evaluation

Autonomy, Accountability and Working With Others

Knowledge and Understanding

Practice - Applied Knowledge and Understanding

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills

Generic Cognitive Skills - Problem Solving, Analysis, Evaluation

Autonomy, Accountability and Working With Others

Knowledge and Understanding

Practice - Applied Knowledge and Understanding

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills

Generic Cognitive Skills - Problem Solving, Analysis, Evaluation

Autonomy, Accountability and Working With Others

Regulations of Assessment

Candidates will be bound by the general assessment regulations of the University as specified in the University Regulatory Framework.

An overview of the assessment details is provided in the Student Handbook and the assessment criteria for each module is provided in the module descriptor which forms part of the module pack issued to students. For further details on assessment please refer to Chapter 3 of the Regulatory Framework.

To qualify for an award of the University, students must complete all the programme requirements and must meet the credit minima detailed in Chapter 1 of the Regulatory Framework.

Combined Studies

There may be instances where a student has been unsuccessful in meeting the award criteria for the named award and for other more generic named awards existing within the School. Provided that they have met the credit requirements in line with the SCQF credit minima (please see Regulation 1.21), they will be eligible for an exit award of PgCert/ PgDip in Combined Studies.